Rijtuigen / Voitures 1833 - 1911

This print, "Rijtuigen/Voitures", by Brepols & Dierckx zoon presents a visual compendium of carriages and trains. It offers a glimpse into 19th-century transport, a period marked by significant industrial and social change. Notice how each mode of transport carries its own set of class and social dynamics. From the horse-drawn carriages, symbols of wealth and status, to the crowded train cars, suggesting a more democratized form of travel. The illustrations capture the hierarchy embedded in transit, revealing who had the luxury of private space and who was relegated to communal travel. This piece also speaks to a time of great cultural optimism, as the industrial revolution promised progress and mobility. It invites us to consider how technological advancements have historically reshaped our relationships to space, time, and each other. The print acts as a historical mirror, reflecting both the excitement and the inequalities of a bygone era.